Casing for lamp-sockets and the like.



C. J. KLEIN.

' CASING FOR LAMP SOCKETS AND THE LIKE.'

APPLICATION man DEC-18,1913.

\ 1,228,028. I Patented May29,1917

rinrrnn era? carrots.

GHARLES J'. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG NOR TO THECUTLER-HAMMER MFG. (30., MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN, A COBPORATION OFWISCONSIN.

CASIN G FOR LAMP-SOCKETS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2c, 1917.

Application filed DecemberlS, 1913. Serial No. 807355.

ing drawing, forming a part of this speclfication.

This invention relatesto improvements in casings for pendent switches,lamp sockets or the like, and more particularly to interlocking meansfor the sections of such casings. p One of the objects-of the inventionis to provide improved interlocking means for;

the sections-of such casings adapted to effect a composite longitudinaland transverse I lock in both directions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In order that my inv ntion may be more clearly understood, I haveillustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accomw panyingdrawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is in certa1nrcspects merely exemplary of my invention and that the form, shown issusceptible to modifications without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

Figure 1 is a side view of a pendent switch casing of the feedthroughtype;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts-of the casing shelhwhenseparated;"

Fig. 3 is a side view of a lamp socket casing;

Fig. l is an enlarged side view of a portion of the casing having oneset of interlocking means; a

Fig. 5 is a perspect ve view or the same at an angle; and,

Fig. 6 is a centrallongitu'dlnal section of the same when the parts areinterlocked.

The casing shown in Fig. 1 comprises a cylindrical .shell 1 and one ormore caps 2 therefor. The shell is designed to house a switch havingonev or more reciprocatlng operating members In order to facilitateinsertion of the switch, the shell 1s longitudinally divided on oppositesides and provided with apertures 4, at right angles to the line ofdivision, to receive the switch operating members. i

The interlocking means are employed for securing the parts of the shelltogether and for holding the caps vin releasable union with the ends ofthe shell. This means comprises a plurality of catches 5 and an equalnumber of shoulders 6 carried by the parts. In the preferred form, theinterlocking means for the cap and shell is identical with that for theparts of the shell. A description of the former will, consequently,suifice for both.

Two catches 5 are sides of the caps, edge. These catches, in thepreferred form, are similar to those described and claimed in my.co-pending application, filed Oct. 28, 1913, Serial No. 797,871. Brieflydescribed, each catch comprises a substantially triangular portion ofthe cap rim displaced inwardly and having a hooked up'per'wall 7provided on opposite and converging sidewalls 8; The free edges of theside walls are inherently beveled from the tip of each catch to themargin of the cap. I

A pair of shoulders 6 are provided on opposite sides of the shell. Inpractice, each of these shoulders comprises an arc-shaped or reniformaperture 9 providing an upper bearing wall 6 and a; tongue 10constitutin a lower bearing wall.

erablv inclined outwardly at a slight angle to the body of the shellwall. As illustrated,

the bearing su'rfac' 6 and the bearing surface of the tongue 10 arecurvilinear in shape and form substantially concentric shoulders.

Attachment of the parts is readily accomplished by turning the assembledshell to aline the apertures 9 with the catches 5 of the cap, whereuponthe parts may be telescoped together. If desired, guide notches 11 maybe cut in the edge of the shell above ,the apertures to facilitateinitial alinement of the interlocking means. Due to the bev- .eledconformation of the catches 5, attache ment of the cap and shell isautomatic, and, due to the resiliency of the shell, engage" plished witha snap action. When'the coupper bearing surface of the catch wall 7either at or adjacent its Thistongue is pre ment of the interlockingmeans is faccomengages the upper bearing surfaceof the aperture Wall 6to lock the cap and'shell; against axial separation, At the same timethe side walls 8 of thes catch abut the depending bearing walls or theaperture to iocir the egcinst relative rotation. liioreower the bearingsurface of each open tiire weii'i) e ects the lower surfiicc of the oeelin defiective 0 reason of the incli a a y nccion of the bearing surface7 oft-he catch,

since, cs will be evident, any seperctive strain on the parts of thecasing tends to force the bearing surface 6 of the sheii away from thefree extremity of tiie'catch. Fur

thermore the cii'ectiveness of the telescocin a i a;

' limit lock is enhanced by reason of the out- Ward inclination of thetongue 10, since the lower face of the catch Wall 7 thus lies at rightangles to the tongues 10, and any thrust exerted on. the ficits istakeifup in. a, straight iine engagement.

Separation. of the cap and slieii is reediiy obtained by compression. ofthe letter be neeth one or icoth of the apertures 9 until the same arefreed from the corresponding catches, whereupon the siieil may beWithdrc'wncxiciiy from The parts of the siieii designed to overlap eiongtheir longitudinal edges end. interlocking means, similar to thatalready described, is provided on the overlapping edges of the shell toreieusebiy iocir. the same together 1 Fig. 3 shows c lamp so ketcasing-com-- j'prising a cap and siieli of the conventionei type. Theinterlocking means shove described are employed in this casing to holdthe cap end sheii together. The operation of this interiocking isanalogous to and may be readily understood by, description of the iseppii. Q. to the pendent switci'i casing of Ii,

An additional advantage of the st of the intcriocizing means is W thesame are in engagement the secures 9 eve "iicture ed so iiiat the cesicgpr cticiiiiy dust it veii es oi .w't' mental appear 11cc.

i Jiict claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1, A electric ices com ing in combination, telescoping sections a Minterlocking means therefor inci'udieg is' e wardiy and upwardly bentcatch on one sec tion, upper and lower shoulders the other section forengagement by said cctci iower shoulder being offset to abut the co derside of said upturned cctcii SEliDS's'irBf'ti my at right angles toiimit thetciescopin'g; said sections A casing for electrical devicescompsis ing in combination, separable sections ing overlapping edges s.viiflfikfid, and up werdly rounded catch on the outer secticsubstantially concentric arc-shaped 59% ders on the inner section, theupper lfiiili'iflcli surface of the catch engaging; the sniper shoulderfor preventing axial seperetiocr'oi? the sections, the lower shoulderbeing sprung outward to abut the hooked underside of the catchsubstantially at right e'ogies to pre vent telescoping of the sections,and the rounded sides of the catch. engeging the shoulders forpreventing relative rotct T51 of the sections.

3. A casing for eiectrical devices, com prising in combination,separable overico ping sections, and marginal interiociri, memostherefor including an interned and upturned catch on the outer sectionhaving roundedupper and lower bearing soriccei and upper and iovverarc-shaped shoulders jornied in the inner section for engagement withsaid catch, the iovver shoulder offset to abut it right angles the iowerbeer fling surface said cctcii.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto s scribed my name in the presence oftwo v nesses. 7

CHARLES KLEHQL 'Witcesses:

L. Ucrsozv, i HUBBARD.

compieteiy

